Love Songs, Photographs of the Intimate, Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris: 30 March-21 August 2022

This is archived material. It is for reference purposes only.

The group show Love Songs proposes a completely new vision of the history of photography through the prism of intimate relationships, like those between lovers.

Bringing together 14 series by some of the most important photographers of the 20th and 21st centuries, this exhibition includes both masterpieces from the MEP collection and works on loan by important contemporary artists, many of which will be exhibited in Europe for the first time. 

At the heart of the exhibition, and forming the twin points of departure for the history it proposes, are landmark series by Nobuyoshi Araki and Nan Goldin. These seminal works will be exhibited in relation to those produced by other major historic figures including Larry Clark, Emmet Gowin, René Groebli, Herve Guibert, Sally Mann and Alix Cléo Roubaud, as well as a series by leading contemporary artists like JH Engström & Margot Wallard, Leigh Ledare, RongRong&inri, Collier Schorr, Hideka Tonomura and Lin Zhipeng (aka No 223).

Taking inspiration from Nan Goldin’s ‘Ballad’ (“The Ballad of Sexual Dependency”, 1986), Love Songs is conceived and organised like a musical compilation or mix tape offered to a lover, with Side A, the first half of the show, made up of series from 1950-1990 and Side B, the second half from 1980 to now.

René Groebli de la série « L’œil de l’amour », 1952 Tirage gélatino-argentique © René Groebli, courtesy Galerie Esther Woerdehoff
René Groebli de la série « L’œil de l’amour », 1952 Tirage gélatino-argentique © René Groebli, courtesy Galerie Esther Woerdehoff
Lin Zhipeng (aka N°223) Lumière verte, 2010 Tirage jet d’encre pigmentaire © N°223, courtesy in)(between gallery
Lin Zhipeng (aka N°223) Lumière verte, 2010 Tirage jet d’encre pigmentaire © N°223, courtesy in)(between gallery
RongRong&inri 23rd November 2000 De la série « Personal letters », 2000 Tirage gélatino-argentique rehaussé, manuscrit à l’encre © RongRong&inri
RongRong&inri 23rd November 2000 De la série « Personal letters », 2000 Tirage gélatino-argentique rehaussé, manuscrit à l’encre © RongRong&inri
Nan Goldin Nan and Brian in bed, New York City, 1986 de la série “The Ballad of Sexual Dependency” Tirage Cibachrome Collection MEP, Paris © Nan Goldin, courtesy Marian Goodman Gallery
Nan Goldin Nan and Brian in bed, New York City, 1986 de la série “The Ballad of Sexual Dependency” Tirage Cibachrome Collection MEP, Paris © Nan Goldin, courtesy Marian Goodman Gallery

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Thursday:
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Friday:
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Saturday:
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Sunday:
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Exceptional days

01 May 2022: Closed